Steering device for boats



a- 1943- c. M. WELLONS 2,328,041

STEERING DEVICE FOR BOATS Fi1ed Sept. 11, 1942 2 Sheets$heet 1 Char/es M. We//0ns Aug. 31, 1943. c. M. WELLCNS 2,328,041

STEERING DEVIQE FOR BOATS y Filed Sept. '11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.1.

I A; 5 r

hullvand rudder surfaces,

Patented (Aug. 31, 1943 1 UNITE-D LSTATES PATENT. *OFFICE if l I 2,328,041jfl 1 g i STEERING nsvloriroanoa'rs Charles M. Wellqnsfliellevue, Pa. Applicationseptember 1 942, Serial No. 458,040 3 Claims. 7 (c1. mgmzy (Granted under the act of March 3,1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 75?) The invention described herein may be manufactured and usedhy or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

'ifhisinvention relates generally to marine propulsion; more particularly itis directed to towboats of the screw-propeller type having facilities fordlrecting the entire propeller wash so that themaximurn inenergydelivered by the propeller may be utilized to produce a turning effect upon the boat and its tow. v

Specifically, this invention is an improvement on the steering device for which United States i Letters Patent No. 2,043,276 were granted to me on June 9, 1936.

Itis anobject of this invention to modifythe form of rudder there disclosed to adapt itto'a hull having a more eflicient form. The hull form to which the present rudder'is adapted is substantially the conventional form for a single screw ship or tug. In addition, the. fantail, or

overhang is modified so as to provide a tunnel eii'ect, thus permittingtheuse of. a propeller with a diameter greater than the draft. v general, the functions of the device now presented are identical with those described in the patent. The device differs essentially in the shape of the hull and the shape of the outer vanes 01! the rudder. This; improved form of hull and rudder not only improves the efliciency ofpropulsion but makes it possibleto raise theinterior portion ofthe overhang area to produce the tun neleflect. l

The surfaces of thehull'atthe after end of the underwater body are concave and designed to minimize the resistance of the hull and to: afford free flow of waterto the propeller. In this respect they conformto usualship design. Since these'surfaces arecOncaVe they intersect in a curved line.{ The-forward boundaryjofeachoi the side vanes of the rudder must coincidewith the intersection curve. whenfthe rudder is rotated tofits extreme position in either; direction. This requirement; together with" certain' additional consideration in respect to the continuity of "the l determines the form of the outer vanes.

Referring more particularly to the accompanyingdrawings in which corresponding partsjare indicated by similar characters: I i Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectionalized side elevation illustrating the mounting and arrangementor my improved rudder with respect to the propeller and hull of the towboat;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view illustrating the rudder in its intermediate position 1 Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the rudder after it has been rotated in its extreme position inan anti-clockwise direction; l l Fig. 415 astern view; 1 q I Fig.5 is a transverse vertical section along the line u a.oflig.1; it i Fig. 6 is a fragmentarysectionalized side ele vation illustratingthe invention applied to a ship having the conventional fantail stern; and i i Fig. 7 is a bottom view of Fig. 6.

In. theillustrated embodiment characterizing this invention, there is shown thefafter end of the; hull I, a screw-propeller z, and a rudder3 composedvof a middle vane 3', outer vanes 4"and 5, and a rudder stock or shaft 6, journalled in rudder stock bearings 1 and 8.

Propeller 2 maybe of any type which,' when submerged and rotated by the application ofsufficient power,-will induce or project a flow of.

water in a direction generallyparallel to its axis theaxis of the propeller shaft. An overhanging structure,which may form a part oior beattached to the hull, extends aft of. the intersec-.

tiori indicated by the line 0-0 and forms a support for the rudder stock and aprotection for the the rudder as clearly shown in Fig. 1 ofthedrawings. m l

Referring to Figs. 2, 4 and5, it will be seen that in its preferred form in. horizontal sections nearithe propeller shaft level, lines through the rudder vaneandhull surface are approximately straight. 'Above' the propeller shaft level, corresponding lines curve outwardly on the-hull, indi-% cating that,when backing, the upper portion of the hull surface tends to deflect the wash of the propeller downward. In this area the wash'would tend to leave the hullsurfacesbut it is deflected downwardand thereby expanded laterally-bycthe upper portion ofthehull surface. Y

v The middle vane 3' of" rudder 3 is similar'to and functionsin the same manner as the type of rudder commonly used for steering screw-pro-L peller driven boats. The side vanes are disposed symmetrically in spaced relation on either side of the middle vane aboutwhich they are arranged in diametrically opposed relation and rig-.4

cated by the'line a-a, intersects the axis of the propeller shaft, indicated by the line b -b.

' With this arrangement it is evident when the rudder is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to its extreme position as shown in Fig. 3, the forward edge of the vane 4 is in contact with the intersection -0 and the inboard side ofthe said vane forms a surface more orless continuous with the starboard side of the hull. Similarly, when the rudder is rotated :a clockwise direction the inboard *side'of the vane forms a more Although in the foregoing, certain elements have been described as best adapted to perform the functions alotted to them, nevertheless it is to be understood that various minor changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a boat of the screw-propeller type, the

combination with a hull formed with underwater surfaces, the latter converging inwardly toward peller disposed to the rear of said line and having its axis of. rotation :in said vertical plane, of a orfl less continuous surf-ace with aport side or the from the propeller will react upon the middle vane .3. Both effects act to force the sternof the boattoward ithe starboard side, thus producing a clockwise turning 'efie'ot upon the "boat. When the .propeller operated-Ito back the boat, water is .directed't'o the propeller from the port side by'the vanes and the water projected from the propeller reacts upon the "vane -4 and the after portion of "the starboard side of the hull. Both of "these effects act toproduce a counterclockwise turning e'ifect upon the boat. When the rudder "is rotated to its extreme position in the opposite direction, effects that arejs'im'ilar but Q site in direction are produced. When therud'der is rotated to positions intermediate between its extreme and central positions and the propeller is rdtatedto produce a-"flow of water relative to the hull and rudder, the turning effects similar to but of lesser force than those described-above, are produced.

The adaptation of my device to ships having other forms of stern construction will be clear from a consideration of "Figs. 6 and 7 in which there is shown a conventional fantail stern. :By suitably curving the outer blades of the rudder; similar'effe'cts may be obtained.

In 'the light of the foregoing description, it will be apparent that by virtue'o'f the action of the outer vanes in directing the approach of the water to the propeller, "a boat equipped with my invention will have greater L-st eering ability when driving "ahead than one equipped with the commen-device of *a single rudder placed 'aft of the 'It will also be evident that, when propeller. backing, the entirewash of the propeller maybe deflected upon the lrelattvelyvrinclined surface formed by the outer frudde'rvane and the side of the hull, :thus obtaining the maximum turning force available from the energy imparted to the flowing Water bythe propeller. -Also it may be readily fseen that water may flow freely to or from the propeller from either one or both sides ofzthe :boat at all times-irrespectiveof the depth of I water underthe bottom of the hull.

multi-vane rudder pivoted about an axis behind said propeller and in-the same plane as the line of :intersectionof the underwater surfaces, said rudder comprising a middle vane rotatable about said rudder axis, and a pair of forwardly and laterally offset curved outer vanes disposed in opposed ,relationssuch that rotation of said rudder about its axis will place the iforward edge of one of said outer vanes injuxta'position with respect'to the intersecting .line of the underwater surfaces to form a continuation of one of said sun-faces and screen the propeller 'from water flowing along'oneside-ofthe hull While directing the water flowing along'the Opposite .sideto and from the propeller through a restriotedchannel.

2. In' a boat of the screw-propeller type, the combination'with a hull formed with .an overhang and having its underwater surfaces inwardly converged toward the stern to an intersection on a curved line located in apl'a'ne'norma'l tothebottom of the overhang .and central of its opposite sides, and ap'ropellerto the rear of said line andhaving'lts axis of 'rotation'in said plane; of a multi va'ne rudder p'ivoted about an "axis 10- cat'ed immediately behind the "propeller and in the'sa'me plane as the line of intersection of the underwater surfaces, said rudder comprising a middle vane rotatable about sai d rudder axis, and a pair of forwardly and laterally offsetcurved ward edge of one or the outer vanes in juxtaposition with respect to thein'tersecting line of the underwater surfaces to form :a continuation of one of said surfaces 'and'screenthe propeller from water flowing along one side of the hull,

while directing the water "flowing along the "opposite side 'to' and from the propeller through a channel idefined by the bottom of the overhang and theouter vanesof the'rudder. I

3. In aboat of "the screw-propeller type, the combination with a hull .formed with an over hang and having its underwater surfaces converged inwardly toward the stem toan intersection on a curved line located in a plane norma-'1 to that of the bottom --of the overhang and central of its opposite sides,- ofla propeller to the rear of-said line and having its axis of rotation in said plane; of a .multi-vane rudder situated immediately behind the propeller and having .its

axis in the same plane as the line of intersection of the imderwater surfaces, said rudder comprising a middle vane and forward andlateral oiTset i the middle vane about its axis will place the for opposite side to and from the propeller through the underwater surfaces to form a continuation i 328,041 l 3 those of the underwater surfaces. said outer peller from water flowing along one side 01 the vanes having a curvature such that rotation of hull while directing the water flowlngalong the ward edgemf one of the outer W nes in juxtaa channel defined by the-bottom of the overhang position with respect to the intersecting line of 5 and the outer vanes oi the rudder.

r oneot seid surfaces and to screen the ro-t CHARLES M. wmLoNs. 

